2007年VOA标准英语-Bush, Mexican President Calderon Focus on Immig

By Greg Flakus
Merida, Mexico
13 March 2007

President Bush is visiting a hacienda (plantation) in the Mexican state of Yucatan with his host, President Felipe Calderon, where the two leaders are discussing immigration, the fight against drug smugglers and other matters of mutual³ concern. As VOA's Greg Flakus reports from Merida, there are low expectations on both sides of the border for this meeting.

 
George W. Bush (r), and Mexican President Felipe Calderon at an arrival ceremony in Temozon Sur, Mexico, 13 Mar¹ 2007 
In his greeting to President Bush Tuesday President Calderon emphasized the importance each country has to the other.

He said President Bush had made that same point on a previous visit, with then-president Vicente Fox in 2001. But the terrorist attacks in Washington and New York later that same year derailed plans both Bush and Fox had for comprehensive immigration reform.

In his greeting, President Calderon expressed support for Bush's effort to create a guest worker program as part of any reform approved by the U.S. Congress.

But the Mexican leader criticized U.S. plans to build nearly 1,000 kilometers of fencing along the border, saying that spending such funds on building roads in Mexico's interior would do more to curb⁴ the migration² of workers to the north.

He also underscored the limits of his power to discourage illegal immigration, saying it could not be done by decree.

 
Illegal immigrants detained by US Border Patrol
But U.S. advocates of greater border security and better enforcement of U.S. immigration laws are campaigning against any immigration reform package that would create what they believe would be an amnesty.

Illegal immigrants already use false documents and other measures to avoid deportation⁵ and backlogged⁶ immigration officials are ill-equipped to stop them.

For this reason, critics of the Bush proposal say any guest worker program, regardless of the rules and legalities it may contain, would be quickly subverted⁷ by the illegal immigrants.

U.S. critics of the guest worker plan also complain that Mexico sends its poor to the United States in order to avoid the difficult changes needed to provide for them at home and because the immigrants send back some $20 billion a year in remittances⁸, second only to oil as a source of national income in Mexico.

 
Carlos Slim Helu (2005 file photo)
The reluctance⁹ of Mexico's elite¹⁰ to address the problem of poverty was underscored last week when Forbes magazine revealed that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu is ranked as the third richest person in the world.

In a nation where half the population is below the poverty line and many people live on as little as half a dollar a day, the telephone company Slim operates is a virtual monopoly and, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, charges its users exorbitant¹¹ rates.

In a news conference Monday, Slim denied this and criticized the report.

He said telecommunications in a developing nation require heavy investment. He said his companies have invested four billion dollars in infrastructure¹².

But, when asked about his own philanthropy, Slim mocked the other two top men on the Forbes list, U.S. billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffet¹³, saying he did not plan on playing Santa Claus.

He said his idea was to do things and resolve problems rather than give out money. He said his function is to build a strong business, not spread wealth.

Slim did say he will provide more money for a foundation he started which supports better healthcare in Mexico and he suggested that the United States send more of its elderly patients to hospitals in Mexico, where costs are cheaper. Among Slim's many holdings is a company that constructs hospitals in Mexico.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

3 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

4 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

5 deportation   

n.驱逐，放逐

参考例句：

• The government issued a deportation order against the four men.政府发出了对那4名男子的驱逐令。
• Years ago convicted criminals in England could face deportation to Australia.很多年以前，英国已定罪的犯人可能被驱逐到澳大利亚。

6 backlogged   

（使）积压( backlog的过去式和过去分词 )； 储存； （为日后装运而）登账确认（订货）

参考例句：

7 subverted   

v.颠覆，破坏（政治制度、宗教信仰等）( subvert的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某人）道德败坏或不忠

参考例句：

• Their wills could be subverted only by death. 只有死神才能使他们放弃他们的意志。 来自教父部分
• Indiana State laws deliberately subverted the intent of the constitutions 14th Amendment. 印第安纳州的法律有意歪曲联邦宪法第十四条修正案的愿意。 来自辞典例句

8 remittances   

n.汇寄( remittance的名词复数 )；汇款，汇款额

参考例句：

• He sends regular remittances to his parents. 他定期汇款给他父母。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Remittances sometimes account for as much as 20% of GDP. 在这些国家中，此类汇款有时会占到GDP的20%之多。 来自互联网

9 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

10 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

11 exorbitant   

adj.过分的；过度的

参考例句：

• More competition should help to drive down exorbitant phone charges.更多的竞争有助于降低目前畸高的电话收费。
• The price of food here is exorbitant. 这儿的食物价格太高。

12 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

13 buffet   

n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台

参考例句：

• Are you having a sit-down meal or a buffet at the wedding?你想在婚礼中摆桌宴还是搞自助餐？
• Could you tell me what specialties you have for the buffet?你能告诉我你们的自助餐有什么特色菜吗？